Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-02-07


himself adored, and sit the evening
happily alone.
And Robert?"
.'Oh, Robert was quite different. He
couldn't be happy unless was near
him. You'd call it selfshness, but /
liked it.
How do you suppose Mr.. Stuart
viii relish the knowledge of your
tastes?''
Il do not think they are abnormal"
Miss behring's tone betrayed some Bit
terness. 1T is no concern of his how
felt year ago He has offered me
the position of mistress of Shockoe.
have accepted the appointment. That
is al.
did some one come in, William?''
Miss Deering asked as the butler APP
peared with the letters.
'Mr. Stuart's gone out ma am. He's
ben er budden dem California trees
for missis."
Isabel Deering, the belle and beauty
of her section, was to marry man of
very large means-a young scion of
the older aristocracy. The older men,
bers of the family had died in the pro-
cess of going down in the world, but
this young STRIPPING was strip
ling ten years ago-had kept brave
! heart, which helped clear head; had
gone west, and six months ago had
come back to Peream, bought at a good
round price Shockoe, his ancestral
home, some four miles from the village,
and followed that by falling nearly in
love with the beautiful Miss Deering
The neighborhood mammas all put out
decoys very vigorously, but he was
either a very old or very mex
perienced specimen. He passed un-
harmed and unallured, and kept his
allegiance openly bound to Isabel Deer
ing. He had been IA very unique
frank, uneXacting lover, seeming to
feel it quite enough that he should be
allowed undisturbed and untrammeled
expression of his own love. A few days
ago he said to Isabel, as they stood. on
the gallery steps;
'Do You know that YOU have never
said nor even limited that you cared any
thing about me. Isabel?"
Haven't ~ Isabel laughed one of
her rippling little laughs, which was
almost Il caress. I've been clever in
extracting promises from you, at any
rate.
Payments. he corrected. cchoing
irresiStibl} her smile. as he laid a
shapely brown hand on her shoulder,
and he said: Il love You very dearly,
Isabel.
Poor fellow" Isabel utilized one of
her patient smiles. Pay all and get
nothingt"
''But YOU do love me little, don't
you? And you don't love anyone else
better-'his face grew dark and stern
as he spoke--.'l couldn't endure that y
Isabel thought of these words as she
half confessed to Maggie a lingering
tenderness for Robert Stanope, and il
half resolve formed itself to tell Nj.
Stuart she did not love him and give
herself back her freedom But the
thought Of rclinquishing her triumph
us mistress of Shockoe. Of all of Mr..
Stuart's immense fortune, was too
much for her vanity.
The wedding was over, the congratu-
lations had been offered. the lunch had
been served, and Isabel looking very
charming in her much-talk-Of-go-aw
gown, was chattering merrily with her
bridesmaid, in the hail rs her brother
approached her looking greatly annoy
ed. and said, with some hesitation:
Isabel, Mr.. Stuart has had IA tele-
gram; he must go to Nevada ut once.
The train starts in FIVE minutes. He
wishes you to decide for yourself
whether YOU will 90 on stay. You are
free to do as You choose.
All eyes turned to the Young bride,
who was by turns pale and red.
"What did he say. PHILIP" She re-
peatcd again and again Surely he
cannot expect"
No; he doesn't expect anything"
The company had withdrawn to
the parlors and brother and sister
stood alone, only Maggie Storms was
near-and more than certain what
Isabel's decision would be. Her broth
er says: do us you choose. Life
out there is very hard, and a woman
would not find any society"
How can decide anything all in
somebody help me-Mag
gle, tell me what to do" Isabel
turned appealinglv to her friend, but
Maggie only shook her head. This
was case she must assume herself.
'Do you suppose he thinks l ought to
go, PHILIP" she asked suddenly; .'but
why can't he waltz
Because he can't, | suppose" her
brother said, bluntly. He must go
at once. Come, it's train time; say